Beijing: Floods in a county in China’s northwest Qinghai province have left at least 16 people dead and 36 others missing, local officials said on Thursday. According to the county’s publicity department, Wednesday The heavy rain that started at 10:25 pm caused heavy flooding in Datong Hui and Tu Autonomous County. Landslides occurred everywhere and the flow of some rivers changed.
More than 2,000 people at the scene for rescue operations
A total of 6,245 locals from 1,517 households in six villages were affected by the natural calamity, the publicity department said. Sudden heavy rains caused severe flooding in Datong County. State-run local authorities declared a level-two emergency on Thursday morning. More than 2,000 people, along with more than 160 vehicles from armed police, public security, emergency and health departments, have been sent to the scene for rescue operations.
Fear in China… Hottest in 60 years
China is currently facing extreme heat, which has caused rivers to dry up in some parts of it. The power crisis has added to the hardships of the people, mainly with the disruption of factories. The country’s economic crisis may deepen due to a decline in crop yields. Many parts of China are facing the worst heat wave in 60 years. According to government meteorological agencies, many places in the central and south-western regions of the country recorded maximum temperatures of over 43 degrees Celsius.
The situation is full of confusion even regarding the seasons in China
The agencies have predicted that higher temperatures in the south could add to the trouble for another two weeks. According to the information received from the sources, the lack of rain has increased the heat. Rainfall in July this year is 40 percent less than last year, which is the lowest since 1961. Water levels in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River have reached their lowest levels, according to data released Monday by China’s Ministry of Water Resources.
Order to stop work for six days
China’s Yangtze River is not only a major source of water, but also a source of hydropower for crops, transportation, and life. Rising heat in China has seen a huge surge in demand for air conditioning, putting extra strain on the power grid. According to the report, on Monday, the southwestern Chinese province of Sichuan, which is largely dependent on hydropower, ordered several factories in 19 cities to stop or reduce production for six days to provide electricity to households.